How to Make a Cute Little Green House for St. Paddy's Day

Supply List

• cardboard or chipboard sufficient to make the house pattern. A 12" square pizza box works well.
• a rectangle  of thicker cardboard 8 inches by 4 1/2 inches to make the yard.
• 1 sheet of two sided, patterned card stock to cover the walls, roof and additional enhancements such as windows and a sidewalk. Alternatively, you could use two sheets of single sided, patterned card stock in pleasing colors.
• One strip of narrow green ribbon approximately six inches long or more to tie the two walls together
• One longer strip of narrow green ribbon to attach to the outside edges of the "yard." This will be approximately 25 inches.
  
• 1 small piece of contrasting card stock to form the porch, approximately 1 3/4 inches high by 3 inches long 
• scraps of green card stock torn into small pieces to form "grass"
• St. Patrick's Day stickers as desired - eg shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold, hats, etc.
  
• small green rhinestones
• larger green, glass beads to make "stones" along the walkway.
• microbeads, sequins or glitter in green, gold or suitable colors to make "faery dust" on the grass.
• small "words" that can be stamped, stickers, rub ons or computer generated text.
  

• craft knife for cutting
• pencil or pen
  
• paper trimmer (optional)
  
• scissors
• decorative scissors OR stencil with scallops OR ability to draw scallops freehand
• ruler OR bone folder OR scoring tool
  
• glues and adhesives as desired. Highly recommended are Zip Dry Paper Glue and Mod Podge
• paper punch or craft punch to make small holes large enough to thread narrow ribbon through
  
• mounting tape (as used for posters) OR 3-D glue dots OR 3-D Mounting Dots
  
• Small word stamps and black stamping ink OR small word stickers or rub-ons OR computer generated printing
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder and Embossing/Die Cutting Machine (optional

• Trace patterns on cardboard and cut out using a craft knife
• Trace house pattern on two-sided, patterned card stock and cut out using scissors
  
• Trace roof pattern on other side of the patterned card stock. If desired, create scallops along the roof edges using decorative scissors, a stencil or by drawing the scallops freehand.
• If desired, emboss the roof card stock using an embossing folder such as the Cuttlebug Spots and Dots.
  
• Score along the fold lines in both cardboard patterns and cut card stock shapes.
  
• Glue the card stock on the cardboard shapes, referring to the pictures above and below.
• Using a small punch, punch a hole mid way up the two outer "walls" of the house. This should be large enough to thread your ribbon through.
  
• Fold the house together along the score lines, then thread a narrow green ribbon through the two holes. You will tie it in a bow after gluing the walls.
  
•  Align the two outer walls and glue together at the edge, using a strong adhesive. When dry, tie the ribbon in a bow.
• Using strong adhesive, glue the roof over top the house.

• Cut two "doors" for the front and back of the house. If desired, the doors can open to display something inside.
  
• Using dimensional tape or dots, attach the doors to the house. Refer to the picture below.
  
• Place a leprechaun or other sticker inside the doors. Affix a green rhinestone on the front of the doors to represent a door knob.
• Take the strip of card stock for the porch (see above supply list) and pleat it using accordion folds. Decorate with stickers or stamped images as desired, and attach to a third wall. See picture below.
  
• Cut window frames as desired and place windows around all four walls. Decorate as desired with stickers, rubons, stamped images, computer generated text, green rhinestones, etc.
  

To Make the Yard

• Use scraps of green card stoc Crumble the card stock scraps in your hands and then smooth it out again. Rip this card stock into small strips and pieces.
• Cut a strip of (optionally embossed) card stock to form a walkway or sidewalk leading to the house.
• Referring to the rectangle of card board used for the yard, cover the top of this cardboard with an adhesive such as Mod Podge. Glue the sidewalk in place. While glue is still wet, adhere the torn green card stock randomly over the rest of the surface to resemble grass.
• Smear a light coating of Mod Podge over top of the "grass{" then sprinkle with micro beads, glitter or sequins. The Mod Podge dries to a clear finish and will hold the beads  in place.
• Using strong adhesive such as Zip Dry, glue the house to the yard.
• Glue the long strip of ribbon to border the edges of the yard. You can do this with Zip Dry or with narrow, double sided sticky tape.
  
• Glue the big glass beads in place to represent stones along the walkway
  

•  Easter Bunny Hatch
• Easter Egg House
• My New House
• The Garden Shed
• Sea Shanty
• My Beach House
• Ski Chalet
• Golf Clubhouse
• The Fijrehouse
• My Garage
• Cupid's House for Valentines Day
• Halloween House of Horrors
• Home Sweet Home
• Gingerbread House
• Santa's Workshop
• School House
• The Tool Shed
• The Farm House
• Bird House
  
• etc.
  

• Crafty Secrets  This web site sells the Little Folding House Kit. 
• Scrapping by Design This web site and blog contains numerous craft projects and video demonstrations

• St. Patrick's Day Altered Board Book This link shows a St. Patrick's Day album made from a children's board book